NHS facing severe crisis

NHS chief executive Simon Stevens states that the current status is severely constrained as capital expenditure through the next three years continues to fall per head of population.

Moreover, consultants, doctors, surgeons, nursing, specialists and hospital support service staff, administrators all have repeatedly given testament to being fully stretched and some close to breaking point. The Red Cross calls it a ‘humanitarian crisis’.

As 2017-18 national and local budgets are reviewed and finalised let us, the general public here in West Sussex, express our concern and gratitude to our local hospitals (St Richard’s - my own nomination) and social care services inclusive of our community transport, voluntary sector in order to boost and augment resources, free bed space and ease increasing pressure as best we can.

I propose, via the County Times, a campaign to raise voluntary funding, now.

Our local hospitals and social care services belong to us. We need them now and for our future.

I pledge a £1,000 contribution with immediate effect.

Now is the need, now is the time.

Let us rally to this fine institution and be proud to do so.

Graham Harper

Stane Street

Adversane

Billingshurst

Editor’s note: donations to support St Richard’s, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals can be made via visiting www.loveyourhospital.org/yourtrust or by sending a cheque to Love Your Hospital, Charity Office, 2nd Floor Stillman House, St Richard’s Hospital, Spitalfield Lane, Chichester, PO19 6SE and enclose a note saying which hospital and/or area of care you would like your donations to go to.